On Saturday, Sept. 10, the Sportsmen’s Alliance celebrated the 20th annual “Save Our Heritage” Rally at Villa Milano Banquet & Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio. The significance and success of the event underscoring the importance of the Sportsmen’s Alliance mission.

“Twenty years ago, this event started as a fundraising effort to save dove hunting in Ohio,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president and CEO of the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Today it’s an event that allows us to continue to protect hunting, fishing and trapping nationwide.”

In 1997, HSUS and Fund for Animals threatened to ban dove hunting in the Buckeye State, but the Sportsmen’s Alliance, along with partners, local business and sportsmen statewide, defeated the proposal. With serious attacks coming every year from animal-rights organizations, the Sportsmen’s Alliance continued the successful and entertaining event as a means to raise funds to fight these attempts to end hunting, fishing and trapping.

Highlighting that national fight to protect hunting, fishing and trapping was keynote speaker Eric Trump, avid hunter and son of GOP Presidential nomination Donald Trump. Eric and his brother Donald, Jr., have experienced attacks in the media by animal-rights extremists for their hunting activities for years. Trump spoke on the importance of protecting our outdoor heritage and Second Amendment rights, reminding the crowd that the next President could potentially appoint multiple Supreme Court justices, which could decide the fate of these issues for generations.

In addition to Eric Trump, there were many other dignitaries in attendance, including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, Congressmen Bob Latta and Pat Tiberi, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, and candidates for Ohio Supreme Court Pat DeWine and Pat Fischer.

As for the past two decades, the “Save Our Heritage” rally featured silent auction items, live auction items, hunting adventures from around the world, dozens of firearms and games for attendees to play, as well as a catered three-course dinner.

This important event is only made possible by the generous support of sponsors, such as title sponsor MKS Supply, exclusive marketer for Hi-Point Firearms and Inland Manufacturing, and the $5,000 grand-prize sponsor Field & Stream stores.

About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.